LINC Programming Reference Manual - Public Support Login - Unisys

FLAG (FL, FG)
FLAG (FL, FG)
The FLAG; command is used to directly modify data in the LINC database.
Note: A FLAG command causes a database update, regardless of the setting of
GLB.ERROR (unlike an AUTO.WRITE; command, or Ispec automatic update at
the end of Main logic).
For flagging a Setup Data item array to an alphanumeric data item, use the FLAG.ARRAY;
command.
What You Cannot Use a FLAG; Command For
You cannot use the FLAG; command to:
$ Change the value of the Ordinate of a Component.
$ Store an alphanumeric value in a numeric data item.
$ Move the value of a Data item to another Data item in the same Ispec. If this is
required, use a Setup Data item as intermediate storage. (See "Before Executing a
FLAG; Command".)
Before Executing a FLAG; Command
Before executing a FLAG; command, the record to be changed should be retrieved. When
the FLAG; command is executed, the record is again retrieved from the LINC database, to
reduce the chance of data corruption. Since the record in memory is overwritten, it is
advisable to hold required values in Setup Data items until after the execution of any
FLAG; commands. (This is why you cannot use the FLAG; command to move the value of a
Data item to another Data item in the same Ispec. Use a Setup Data item as intermediate
storage.)
Grouping FLAG; Commands
Consecutive FLAG; commands are grouped together, with the combined database record
changes being written to the database in one operation. When the FLAG; commands are
separated by other commands, multiple database update operations will occur, possibly
causing unexpected performance degradation.
Record Locking
The first FLAG; command locks the record being flagged, prior to storing it. The record is
not freed until End of Transaction.
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